Corner lock for bedsteads



Sept. 9 1924. 1,508,297

H.mCHARDSON CORNER LOCK FOR BEDSTEADS Fileq Dec. 5, 192] 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 120671251 1&371055 Han 2y fiziaizwrd m,

Sept. 9, 1924. 159829! H. RICHARDSON CORNER LOCK FOR BEDSTEADS Filed Dec. 5, 192] 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J- flag- 13 12 16 3L; miu EM Sept. 9 1924. 1,508,297

H. RICHARDSON CORNER LOCK FOR BEDSTEADS Filed Dec. 5, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet K05711655- .flmy Tammi/50m Sept, 9, 1924.

1,508,297 H. RICHARDSON CORNER LOOK FOR BEDSTEADS Filed Dec. 5, 1921 A Sheets-Sheet 4 Alllll Patented Sept. 9, 19246 HENRY RICHARDSON,

CORNER LOCK Application filed December 70 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY RICHARDSON, a subject of the King of Great Britain, re siding at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corner Looks for Bedsteads, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to improvements in what are commonly known as corner locks for bedsteads, including the instrumentalities by which the side or end rails. or both, of a bedstead frame are separably united to the corner posts of the latter.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved corner post bracket preferably of a generally box-like form to receive the end of the side rail or an attachment thereto, which bracket is preferably made of sheet-metal and is characterized by lightness, strength, simplicity and durability for cooperation with side rail fastening and locking devices. Another important object of the invention is to provide a simple means for strongly and rigidly' locking the side or end rails or both to the corner post bracket and which will securely hold the side rail in the bracket under the weight carried by the bed frame and against longitudinal pulling strains. A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of corner bracket and locking means that will permitthe side rails to be inverted so as to support either a bed spring frame or slats.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein T have illustrated several specific forms or embodiments of the principle of the invention, and in which 7 Fig. 1 is a plan view of a sheet-metal blank from which my improved corner bracket is formed;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my improved bracket shown applied. to a corner post, and with the side and end rails secured thereto by my improved locking means;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

1,508,297 FFICEQ or crrrcaeo, ILLINOIS.

FO'R BEDSTEADS,

5, 1921. Serial No. 519,870

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the lin H of Fig. 3; I

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the end portion of a side rail, that fits within the corner bracket;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of an end portion of an end rail that is attached to the corner bracket;

Fig. 7 is a perspective elevation of a keeper lug constituting an element of the device for locking the side rail to the top plate of the bracket;

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are views correspond ing to Figs. 2, 3 and 4:, respectively, showing a modification adapted'for the inverting of the side rail, and also afl'ording a lock for the latter on both sides; of the bracket i Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the side rail in horizontal inverted position;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of an end portion of the side rail and an attachment or extension membersecured thereto adapted for cooperation with the corner bracket shown in Figs. 8 to 1 1. I i

Figs. 13, 14 and '15 are views corresponding to Figs. 2, 3 and 4:, showing another modification;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the end portion of a side rail and an extension member secure-d thereto adapted for cooperation with the corner bracketshown in Figs. 13., 14 and 15; i

Fig. 17 is a detail perspective view of a modified form of keeper lug;

Figs. 18, 19 and 20 are views correspond ing to Figs. 2, 3 and 4;, showing another modification adapted to permit the side rail to be engaged with and locked to the corner bracket in either upright or inverted position; i I

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of an end portion of the side rail and an attachment member secured thereto and designed to 00-.

said bracket; and the "novel features relate mainly to improved means for removably securing the side rail, or ra1l attachmentfln the bracket, said securing means belng de- (BOOT. it being" well known that the latter operation involves a severe bending strain on-the cornerbrz-ickets and the bed rail tas- ,teuing means and to provide an improved construction permitting the side rail. to he need in either upright or inverted position.

In the accomplishment of these objects, as disclosed by the drawings and as hereinafter described, :the bracketand side rail are held against relative longitudinal. and relative lateral movement'by means including a vertically disposed rail locking element :herein shown as a hug projecting from one of the said parts embraced by a co-operating rail locking element on the other Off said parts, said means actingjointly with rail locking devices ona side plate ot the bracketand a vertical limb ot the side rail to hold the said bracket and side rail against relative ang;ulaxr movement in a, vertical plane said devices. as herein shown, comprising a laterally disposed pin on one ot the said parts i-ntertittino' with a vertically disposed slot. in the other of said parts.

Reterrinp; .to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, Fig. 1 shows a sheet-metal blank cut to provide outer and inner side walls 1 and 2 that are bent downwardly on the dotted lines a. 7)., a top or shel't plate 3" and a pair of rear wall members 4 and 5 that are bent inwardly oni'the dotted lines P. Z into overlapped relationand are rigidly attached to the bed post 6 by bolts or studs 7. From the inner side plateilthere is cut and bent upwardly on the dotted line 0 a horizontal attachment lug); l 'QWCljiETOHTlllP same side plate there is cut and'bent outwardly on the dotted line f a vertical attachment lug; 9. To the lugs 8 and 9 areriveted the horizontal and vertical limbs m an angle end rail 10 oi the bed -Frame. This end rail is provided with a lo Q'itudinal slot ll in its horizontal limb (Figs 3 andfi) tor a purpose hereinatter shown. In the top or shclt plate 3 there is also cut a slot 12.

13 designates an angle side rail. the end otxwhich may be reduced in \vidtln as shown in to fit within the corner bracket. In thehorizontallimb of the end or the side rail is cut a slot 14 (Fig. which. when the rail is fully entered in the bracket. registers with. the slot ;1 Through the registering" slots :12 and 14 spassed a keeper lugg- 15 oil the general U-formillustrated in detail in.

7 The curved lower portion of the '5 is preferably tapered from edge to er and when the lug is in place, it is engaged by a wedge-shaped key 16., best shown in 3, said key being provided with a stem or shank 17 extending beneath the hori zontal linibo't the end rail 10 and slid-ably secured to the latter by a stud 18 mounted therein and slidable through the slot ll when the wedge 16 is torced inwardly or drawn outwardly by a thumb piece 19 on the outer end ot its stem. The side limbs of the keeper lug; 15 have heads 15 which rest on the top plate 3 oi the bracket, straddling the slot 12. By means ot this device the side rail is strongly and securely locked to the top plate ot the bracket in such a manner as to trans mit all vertical strain to the latter and through the fastening studs 7. to the bed post.

In the outer side wall 1 of the bracket is secured a headed stud 20. This stud. when the side rail is fully entered into the bracket. is engaged with the bottom of a vertical notch 21. cut in the end ox the vertical limb of the side rail 13. The notch 21 is termed with a horizontal entrance way or slot 22. As the rail is passed into the brackeh the stud 20 passes through the entrance slot and as the rail is then raised to bring its top surface againstthe top or shelt plate ot the ln'acket, the stud 20 reaches its final position at the bottom of the notch 21, and, of course. a't'ter the locking key 16 has been applied. the stud 9 0 is locked in the bottom of the notch 21 against any possibility of displacement except by first withdrawing; the key 16.

The stnd 20 cooperating with the notch 21 effectively prevents any angular or tilting! movement of the post and bracket rela ivelv to the side rail in a vert cal plane tor the reason that such angular or tilting in ovemont. under the strains tendiiiig to cause the same. involves a relative upward movement ot the side rail and downward move ment of the bracket. and the engagement ot the stud with the bottom of the notch mak s this impossible when the looking key '16 is in place.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive, the same form and structure of box bracket as that already decribed is employed. Also the same attaching means for the end rail, and the same hip; and key means for locking the side rail to the top plate of the bracket. These parts aretheretore indentilied by the same reterence numerals heretofore employed to desi nate them and need not be again described.

Referring; first to Fig. to each end of the side rail 13 is strongly riveted an e);- tension member designated as an entirety by 30. This extension member is of general rectangular form comprising-an outer side wall 31, a top wall 32, a bottom wall 33 and a pair of inwardly extending lugs or cars 34' and 35 integral with the inner edges of the top and bottom walls 32 and 33. The top and bottom walls 32 and 33 are formed with key slots 36 and 37 corresponding functionally with the key slot 14 of Fig. 5, and the outer side wall 31 is provided with opposed vertical notches 38 and 39 and a common eutrance way or slot 40 that corresponds functionally with the notch 21 and entrance slot 22, of Fig. 5. Between the lugs 34 and 35 is an entrance way or slot 41 that corresponds with the slot 40 on the other side. This structure is designed to enable the side rail to be engaged with the corner bracket in either the upright or inverted position. By upright position is understood the position illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 wherein. the horizontal flange of the side rail is uppermost and adapted to support a bed spring'frame; while by inverted position is understood the position illustrated in Fig. 11 wherein the horizontal limb of the side rail is lowermost and is adapted to support cross slats. Secured in and extending crosswise between the outer and inner side walls of the bracket is a stud or pin 42. As the side rail extension is moved endwise into the bracket, the stud 42 passes through the entrance slots 40 and 41, andas the rail is then raised and locked to the top plate of the bracket, the stud comes to rest in the bottom of one of the notches 38, 39 and directly behind the corresponding lug 35, 34, according to whether the rail is placed in upright or inverted position. This construction not only permits the application of the rail in either upright or inverted position. but by reason of the double engagement of the rail extension with both side walls of the bracket through the pin or stud 42 it affords great strength and resistance to angular bending strains hereinbefore referred to.

Figs. 13 to 17 inclusive illustrate further modifications in both the top and side looking devices which may be employed within the scope of the invention. Referring to the top locking device, instead of slotting the top plate of the bracket for the passage of the keeper lug, the same is provided with a pair of holes 50, and the upper ends of the limbs of the keeper lug 15 (Fig. 17) are provided with tenons 51 which pass upward ly through the holes 50 and at their upper ends are riveted over the top plate of the bracket, as indicated at 52. By this construction the keeper lug is permanently secured to-the bracket plate, and the latter is not weakened by the cutting of a slot therein sufficiently large to admit the passage of the keeper lug.

The side locking devices embody the same principle as the corresponding device's already described, but in this case the bracket extension des gnated as an entirety y (Fig. 16) has the same top, bottom. I

and outer side walls as the bracket extension shown in Fig. 12 and is also formed with an inner side wall 54 which, however, does not extend to the outer end of the structure in order to leave an opening for the passage of the main locking key 16. The side walls of the bracket are formed with vertical notches 55, and the side walls of the bracket extension carry headed studs that engage with the'notches said studs 56 being located at mid-height of the bracket extension 53. The side rail extension is engaged with the bracket by entering it at a level at which the studs 56 clear the lower edges of the side plates in advance of the notches 55, and then raising it to permanent position in which the studs lie in the upper or closed ends of the notches, This, it will be observed, is a simple reversal of the stud and notch arrangement previously described, but. secures the same result of resisting relative angu lar displacement in a vertical plane of the side rail and bracket, since the tendency of the bracket to swing downwardly relatively to the studs, or of the studs to swing up,-

wardly relatively to the bracket. is opposed by the engagement of the studs with the closed ends of the notches. This structure, like that shown in Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive, allows the side rail to be postioned. in either upright or inverted form. In this construe tion I have shown the bracket applied to a corner post 6 of square form in cross-sec-- tion, but, of course, the form of the post is immaterial since the back wall of the bracket will be shaped to conform tothe surface formation of the attached.

Figs. 18 to 21, inclusive, illustrate a modi post to which it is I of the bracket are equipped. slightly below the top plate with studs 60 and 61. The side rail extension 62 (Fig. 21) is formed with four transverse corner slots, namely, upper and lower slots 63 and 64 on its outer side and similar upper and lower slots 65 and 66 on itsinner side. In this construction the side rail extension is engaged with the bracket by entering the same at a sufliciently low level to enable the top wall of the bracket extension to slide be-' neath the studs 60, 6] until the latter reg ister with the slots 63 65 or 66, 64 (accordingly as the rail. is applied in upright or inverted posit-ion) and then raising the rail and thereby carrying the studs 60. 61 to their seats in the bottoms of the side wall portions of the notches. Here again, any tendency to relative angular movement of the siderail and bracket in a vertical plane is Strongly opp by the engagement of the studs )ottoms of the notches.

Fiince the l attachment members herein shown are v e div and permanently fastened to the si e rail proper and constitute in eil ect end portions of the latter, it is to be under, oo-i'l that wherever the ends or end portions oi the side rails are rered to in th s specification or in the claims, I have Vacant to designate either integral cnd portioi or attached end portions, ot the side 1'? 'lll e term side rail d herei l llltt ided to include either i rail of a bed frame or the side rail of a bed-spring frame.

it is believed that the foregoing description in ci'innection with the drawings will .i' to those skilled in the art the novel structural teatures ot the present in ention and the principle underlying the same, vManileslly the forms shown and described by no means exhaust the struc tural variations and modifications that are possible within tie principle of the invention, but they are believed to be sufficient to make clear the structural and functional advantages which inhere therein. Hence, 1 do not limit the invention to the specific terms, arrangements and proportions shown in the drawings, but reserve all such variations and modifications as fall. within the spirit and purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a corner lock for bedsteads, the combination with a box bracket and a side rail having an end portion adapted to engage a locking member on said bracket under a Vertical sliding movement, of means tor locking said end. portion to a horizontal plate of said bracket, and inl'erlitting means on a side wall of said bracket and a vertical. limb of said end portion, brought into an gagement under said vertical sliding move ment co-operating with said first-named locking means to oppose relative angular movement in a vertical plane of said bracket and side rail.

2.1n a corner lock for bedsteads, the combination with a box bracket and a side rail having an end portion adapt-ed to engage within said bracket under an endwise sliding movement, of means for locking said end portion to a horizontal plate of said bracket, and interfitting means on a side wall of said bra ket and vertical limb of said. end portion, brought into engagement under a relative vertical movement of said. parts serving in cooperation with said firstnamed locking means to oppose relative angular movement in a vertical plane and also relative horizontal movement of said bracket and side rail.

3. In a corner lock for bedsteads, the combination with a box bracket, and a side rail having an end portion fitting within said bracket, of interlocking means "for fastening said end portion to a horizontal member of said bracket, and other means i-o-operating with said interlocking means to prevent relative angular movement in a vertical plane of said bracket and side rail, said other means comprising a vertical notch in one of said parts and a cooperating member on the other engaged with said notch.

4.111 a corner lock for bedsteads, the combination with a box bracket, and a side rail having an end portion fitting within said bracket, of: means for locking said end portion to the top plate of said bracket, and other means co-operating with said locking means to prevent relative angular movement in a vertical plane and also relative horizontal movement of said bracket and side rail, said other means comprising an inwardly projecting pin on a side wall oi said bracket, and a vertical notch in the vertical limb of said end portion engaged. with said pin.

5.111 a corner lock for bedsteads, the combination of a hollow bracket, means, including a lug, and a key engaging the said lug, for locking a horizontally disposed member of a side rail to a horizontally disposed plate of the said bracket, and co operating means on a side wall of the said bracket and a vertical member of the said side rail opposing relative angular movement in a vertical plane of the said bracket and side rail.

6. In a corner lock for bedsteads, the combination of a hollow bracket, means, including a lug, and a key engaging the said lug, for locking a horizontally disposed member of a side rail to a horizontally dis-- posed plate of the said bracket, and cooper sting means on a side wall of the said bracket and a vertical member of the said side rail, brought into engagement by a relative vertical movement of the said parts, for opposing relative angular movement in a vertical plane of said bracket and side rail.

7.1n a corner lock for bedsteads, the combination with a box bracket, of a side rail having a horizontal limb thereof within said bracket and lying against a horizontal plate of the latter, a keeper lug carried by one of said last named parts and passed through the other, an end rail attached to the inner side of said bracket, and a locking key slidably mounted on the said end rail and engaging with said lug.

8.111 a corner lock for hedsteads. the combination with a bracket, and a side rail having an end portion fitting within said bracket, of interlocking means for fastening said end portion to a'horizontal member of said bracket in either the upright or in verted position ofsaid side rail, and cooperating means on a side wall of said bracket and a vertical limb of said end portion, interfitting with each other in either the upright or inverted position of said side rail, and cooperating with said first-named means in opposing relative angular movement in a vertical plane of said bracket and side rail.

9. In a corner lock for b'edsteads, the combination with a box bracket, and a side rail having an end portion fitting within said bracket of interlocking means for fastening said end portion to a horizontal member of said bracket in either upright or inverted position of said side rail, and cooperating means on a side wall of said bracket and a vertical limb of said end portion, interfitting with each other in either the upright or inverted postion of said side rail and cooperating with said first-named means in opposing both relative angular movement in a vertical plane and horizontal sliding movement of said bracket and side rail.

-10. In a corner lock for bedsteads, the combination or a bracket comprising a back wall adapted to lit the bed post, outer and inner side plates, and a horizontally disposed plate between the latter, a side rail end portion having outer and inner vertically disposed plates fitting between the said outer and inner side plates of the bracket and a horizontally disposed plate integral with said vertically disposed plates a rail locking element on each side wall of the bracket interlocking with a co-operating rail locking element on each vertical member of the said side rail end portion, and means for locking the said horizontally disposed plate of the bracket to said horizontally disposed plate of the side rail end portion, said means including a projecting rail locking member on one or said plates engaged with an aperture in the other of said plates.

11. In a corner lock for bedsteads, the combination of a bracket comprising a back plate adapted to fit the bed post, outer and inner side plates, and a horizontally disposed plate between the said side plates, a side rail end portion including outer and inner vertical plates fitting between the said outer and inner side plates of the bracket, means comprising a pin mounted on and extending between the said outer and inner side plates of the bracket interlocking with a slot in the said outer and inner vertical plates of the said side rail end portion for locking said side and vertical plates respec tively to one another, and means for locking the said horizontally disposed plate of the bracket to the said side rail end portion, said means including a rail locking member projecting from one of said parts engaged with an aperture in the other of said parts.

12. In a corner lock for bedsteads, the combination of a box bracket, a side rail end portion including outer and inner vertical plates adapted to fit between the'outer and inner side walls of the bracket under a rela-' tive endwise movement of the said bracket and side rail, co-operating interlocking means on the said outer and inner vertical plates and side walls brought into engagement by a relative vertical movement of the said vertical plates and side walls, and means, including co-operating elements on the said side rail end portion and a horizontally disposed portion of the bracket, brought into interfitting relation under a relative vertical movement, for locking the said portions to one another. 7

13. In a corner lock for bedsteads, the combination of a box bracket, a siderail end portion including outer and inner vertical plates adapted to fit between the outer and inner side walls of the said bracket, means on the said outer and inner vertical plates of the side rail end portion interlocking with a co-operating rail locking element on the outer and inner side Walls of the bracket under a relative vertical movement for looking said vertical plates and side walls re: spectively to one another in either the upright or inverted position of the side rail, and means, including interengaging elements on the side rail end portion and a horizontally disposed portion of the said bracket for locking said portions to oneanother in either the upright or inverted position of the side rail."

1a. In a corner lock for bedsteads, the combination of a box bracket, a side rail end portion, including spaced vertical members and upper and lower horizontally disposed plates, disposed between the outer and inner side walls of the said bracket, means on the vertical members of the said rail end portion interlocking with co-operating means on'the side walls of the bracket under a relative vertical movement for locking said vertical members and side walls to one another in either the upright or inverted position of the side rail, and means for looking a' horizontally disposed plate of the said side rail end portion to ahorizontally disposed portion of the said bracket in either the upright or inverted position of the said side rail, said means including a rail locking member on one of said parts engaged with an aperture in the other of said parts.

15. In a corner lock for bedsteads, the combination of a box bracket, a side rail having an end portion including outer and ment of the said limbs and Walls, for lockin g said outer and inner limbs and walls respectively to one another in either the upright or inverted position or the said side rail, and means on said side rail end portion interengaging With means on a horizontally disposed portion ot' the bracket for locking said portions, in either the upright or inverted position of the said side rail, against relative horizontal movement.

16. In a corner lock for bedsteads, the combination of a box bracket, a side rail having an end portion comprising outer and inner vertical plates fitting between the outer and inner side Walls of the bracket, means comprising oppositely facing slots in the said outer and inner vertical plates of the side rail end portion interlocking with a rail locking member located on and between the said outer and inner side Walls of the bracket; for locking the said vertical plates and-side Walls respectively to one another in either the upright or inverted position or the saidside rail, and means for locking said side rail end portion to a horizontally disposed portion of the bracket in either the upright or inverted position of the said side rail, said means including a projecting rail locking element on one of said portions int'erfitting With a co-operating rail-locking element on the other of said portions.

17. In a corner lock for bedsteads, the combination of a box-like bracket, a side rail end portion having a vertical limb and vertically spaced horizontal limbs and having its vertical limb disposed Within the said bracket, means for looking a side Wall elf the said bracket to the said vertical limb oi the side rail end portion in either the upright or inverted position of the said side rail said means comprising a fixed laterally projecting rail locking element on one of the said parts entering a. rail locking slot in the other of said parts, and means for locking one of the said vertically spaced horizontal limbs of the side railend portion to the said bracket in either the upright or inverted po sition of the said side rail, said means includ ing a vertically projecting rail locking ele ment on one of said parts embraced by a co-operating rail locking element on the other of said parts.

18. In a corner lock for bedsteads, the combination With a box-like bracket having a side plate carrying a. pin of a side rail having an end portion iitting Within said bracket, means on said rail end portion for removably looking a vertical member of said end portion to the side plate of said bracket in either the upright or inverted position of the side rail, said means comprising reversely facing slots in the said vertical member adapted to engage with said pin, and coacting auxiliary interlocking means on said bracket and side rail end portion co-opcrating with said first-named locking means to hold the said bracket and side rail against relative angular movement in a vertical P ,o c

HENRY RIGHARDSQN 

